IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


ciHivi/iciv!;; 

Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


vV 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The 
tot 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
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0 

D 
D 
D 
D 


y 


Coloured  covers/ 
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Covers  damaged/ 
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□    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
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n 


D 


n 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relii  avec  d'autres  documents 


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modification  dans  la  mithode  normale  de  filmage 
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D 
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0 
D 
0 
O 
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0 
0 


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obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


The 
pos 
oft 
film 


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beg 
the 
sior 
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first 
sior 
or  11 


The 
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diffc 
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reqt 
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This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 
Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqud  ci-dessous. 
10X  14X  18X  22X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


26X 


30X 


J_ 

24X 


28X 


.12X 


ire 

details 
es  du 
modifier 
er  une 
filmage 


es 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
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first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  V/ame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —h^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

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right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
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method: 


L'exemplaire  filmd  fut  reproduit  gidce  A  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


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conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimis  sont  film^s  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illu&tration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  nelon  le  cas.  Tous  les  auVres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  pege  qui  comporte  une  emprt.  nte 
d  impression  ou  d'iilustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  dss  symbules  suivants  apparaTtra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ^  signifie  "A  SUIVRC",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmte  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  ust  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  film6  A  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


errata 
to 


pelure, 
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32X 


1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

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♦'> 


THE    JOURNAL 


OF 


MAJOR  GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 


->  / 


' 


^l)in'0  Mtptintfi, 


NO.  I. 


I 


THE   JOURNAL 


or 


Major    GEORGE    WASHINGTON, 


8KMT  Br  THE 


Hon.  ROBERT  DINWIDDIE 


TO   THK 


COMMANDANT  OF  THE  FRENCH  FORCES  IN  OHIO. 


WITH  A   MAP. 


NEW  YORK: 

REPRINTED  FOR  JOSEPH  SARIN. 

1865. 


a 


il 


f 


200  ecpiti  printed  on  rnnnU  paper. 
60  ccpiu  <m  large  paper. 


No. 


4- 


^^ 


BITISIIBI,   OAMBSIDQl: 
PUKTID  BT  a.  0.  BOUaaiON  AMD  OONFAIIT. 


psa. 


ya/"j,i  £i.'nt/\nr ^vm 


Jtt-rUace  ibra^Ihrt 


THE 


JOURNAL 

O  F 

Major  George  PP^q/hington^ 

SENT    BY    THE 

Hon.  Robert  Dinwiddie,  Efq; 
His  Majefty's  Lieutenant-Governor,  and 
Commander  in  Chief  of  Virginia^ 

TO     THE 

Commandant  of  the  French  Forces 

o  » 

OHIO. 

To  which  are  added,  the 

Governor's     LETTER: 

AND     A 

Translation  of  the  French  Officer's  Anfwer. 

WITH 

A  New  Map  of  the  Country  as  far  as  the 
MISSISSIPPI 


rVILLIJMSBURGH  Printed, 

LONDON,  Reprinted  for  T.  Jefferys,  the  Corner 

of  Sf.  Martin's  Lane. 


MDCCLIV. 

[Price  One  Shilling.] 


r 


i  r 


k  i 


; 


Maps,  Plans  and  Charts  j'njl  imported  by 
Thomas  Jefferys,  Geographer  to  his  Royal 
Highne/s  the  Prince  </ Wales. 

LE  Indies  Orientale,  avec  le  cote  dc  Coromandel,  et 
rAnalife  par  M.  D.  Anville. 
Novelles  Cartes  de  Ics  Indies  Orientale  par  M.  D  apres 

de  Mannivellette. 
Theatre  de  la  Guerre  in  Italie  par  M.  D' Anville,  prem. 

Partie.  ^      »,        •      • 

Mappemende  de  M.  Boulanfger  avec  ton  Memoire,  in 

Quarto.  .    .  .    c 

Memoire  fur  les  nov.  decouveitcr  de  1  Amiral  de  I-onte, 

avec  Cartes 
Confiderations  Geographiques:  in  Quarto,  avec  4  Cartes 

par  M.  Buache. 
Canada  de  Robert,  1753. 
Porter  de  France  par  Jalliot,  1754. 
Dekiles  Atlas  complete,  large  Paper  and  fmall. 
The  German  Atlas  compleat  by  Homan. 
Atlas  de  France,  1751. 

The  Chinefe  Atlas  by  D'Anville.  «       1. 

The  Ruffian  Atlas  compiled  and  engraved  at  Peterlburgh. 
D'Anvilles's  new^  Maps  of  Italy,  North  America,  South 

America,  Africa  and  the  Eaftward  Part  of  Afia 
Benin's  Sea  Charts. 
Plan  of  Rome 

—  Venice 

Berlin 

Environs  o(f  Paris,  9  Sheets 

Paris,  one  Sheet 

the  Military  School 

Verfaillcs,  one  Sheet  » 

Marly 

Nancy 

rOrient 

Speedily  will  be  publijhed. 

A  Map  of  the  Seat  of  War  in  the  Eajl  Indies, 

with  a  Memoir. 


^li 


a^ 


1  •J«*^•  •^h*  •rh*  •^h*  »y*ho  •'Ahc  u^h*  •Af^  < 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

AS  it  was  thought  advifeable  by  his  Honour 
the  Governor  to  have  the  following  Ac- 
count of  my  Proceedings  to  and  from  the  French 
on  Ohio,  committed  to  Print ;  /  think  I  can  do 
no  lefs  than  apologize,  infome  Meafure,for  the 
numberlefs  Imperfections  of  it. 

There  intervened  but  one  Day  between  my  Ar-. 
rival  in  WiUiamfburg,  and  the  Time  for  the 
Council's  Meeting,  for  me  to  prepare  and  tran- 
fcribe^from  the  rough  Minutes  I  had  taken  in 
my  Travels,  this  Journal',  the  writing  of  which 
only  was  fiifficient  to  employ  me  clofely  the  whole 
Time,  confequently  admitted  of  no  Leifure  to 
confult  of  a  new  and  proper  Form  to  offer  it  in, 
or  to  correal  or  amend  the  Virion  of  the  old : 
Neither  was  I  apprifed,  nor  did  in  the  leafl  con- 
ceive, when  I  wrote  this  for  his  Honours  Peru- 
fal,  that  it  ever  would  be  publifhed,  or  even  have 
more  titan  a  curfory  Reading',  till  I  was  in- 
formed, at  the  Meeting  of  the  prefent  General 
Affembly,  that  it  was  already  in  the  Prefs. 

There  is  nothing  can  recommend  it  to  the 
Public,  but  this.  Thofe  Things  which  came 
under  the  Notice  of  my  own  Obfervation,  I  have 

been 


Advertisement. 

been  explicit  andjujl  in  a  Recital  of: Thofe 

which  I  have  gathered  from  Report,  I  have  been 
particularly  cautious  not  to  augment,  but  col- 
lected the  Opinions  of  thefeveral  Intelligencers, 
and  fele6led  from  the  whole,  the  mofl  probable 
and  confiflent  Account. 

G.  Washington. 


THE 


JOURNAL,    &c. 

Wednefday,  OHober  31/?,  1753. 

WAS  commiffioned  and  appointed 
by  the  Honourable  Robert  Dinwiddie, 
Efq ;  Governor,  &c.  of  Virginia^  to 
^^  vifit  and  deliver  a  Letter  to  the  Com- 
mandant of  the  French  Forces  on  the  Ohio,  and 
fet  out  on  the  intended  Journey  the  fame  Day : 
The  next,  I  arrived  at  Frederick/burg,  and  en- 
gaged Mr.  Jacob  Vanbraam,  to  be  my  French 
Interpreter ;  and  proceeded  with  him  to  Alex- 
andria, where  we  provided  Neceflaries.  From 
thence  we  went  to  Winchejler,  and  got  Baggage, 
Horfes,  &c.  and  from  thence  we  purfued  the 
new  Road  to  Wills-Creek,  where  we  arrived  the 
14th  of  November. 

»  Here 


% 


C   lO   ) 

Here  I  engaged  Mr.  Gtyi  to  pilot  us  out,  and 
alfo  hired  four  others  as  Servitors,  Bamaby 
Currin,  and  John  Mac-Quire,  Indian  Traders, 
Henry  Steward,  and  William  Jenkins ;  and  in 
Company  with  thofe  Perfons,  left  the  Inhabitants 
the  Day  following. 

The  exceffive  Rains  and  vaft  Quantity  of 
Snow  which  had  fallen,  prevented  our  reaching 
Mr.  FrazierX  an  Indian  Trader,  at  the  Mouth 
of  Turtle-Cxttk,  on  Monongahela  [River]  till 
Thurfday  the  22d.  We  were  informed  here, 
that  Expreffes  had  been  fent  a  few  Days  before 
to  tne  Traders  down  the  River,  to  acquaint  them 
with  the  French  General's  Death,  and  the  Return 
of  the  major  Part  of  the  French  Army  into 
Winter  Quarters. 

The  Waters  were  quite  impaflable,  without 
fwimming  our  Horfes ;  which  obliged  us  to  get 
the  Loan  of  a  Canoe  from  Frazier,  and  to  fend 
Bamaby  Currin,  and  Henry  Steward,  down 
the  Monongahela,  with  our  Baggage,  to  meet  us 
at  the  Forks  of  Ohio,  about  lo  Miles,  there  to 

crofs  the  Aligany.* 

As  I  got  down  before  the  Canoe,  I  fpent  fonie 
Time  in  viewing  the  Rivers,  and  the  Land  in 
the  Fork ;  which  I  think  extremely  well  fituated 
for  a  Fort,  as  it  has  the  abfolute  Command  of 
both  Rivers.    The  Land  at  the  Point  is  20  or  25 

♦  The  Ohio  and  Aitgat^  are  the  fame  River. 

Feet 


( 11 ) 

Feet  above  the  common  Surface  of  tlie  Water ; 
and  a  confidcrable  Bottom  of  flat,  well-timbered 
Land  all  around  it,  very  convenient  for  Building : 
The  Rivers  are  each  a  Quarter  of  a  Mile,  or 
more,  acrofs,  and  run  here  very  near  at  right 
Angles :  Aligany  bearing  N.  E.  and  Mononga- 
hela  S.  E.  The  former  of  thefe  two  is  a  very 
rapid  and  fwift  running  Water;  the  other  deep 
and  ftill,  without  any  perceptible  Fall. 

About  two  Miles  from  this,  on  the  South 
Eaft  Side  of  the  River,  at  the  Place  where  the 
Ohio  Company  intended  to  eredt  a  Fort,  lives 
Shingifs,  King  of  the  Dehwares :  We  called 
upon  him,  to  invite  him  to  Council  at  the  Loggs- 

Town. 

As  I  had  taken  a  good  deal  of  Notice  Yefter- 
day  of  the  Situation  at  the  For^s,  my  Curiofity 
led  me  to  examine  this  more  particularly,  and  I 
think  it  greatly  inferior,  either  for  Defence  or 
Advantages;  efpecially  the  latter:  For  a  Fort 
at  the  Forks  would  be  equally  well  fituated  on 
the  OAio,  and  have  the  entire  Command  of  the 
Monongaliela ;  which  runs  up  to  our  Settlements 
and  is  extremely  well  defigned  for  Water  Car- 
riage, as  it  is  of  a  deep  ftill  Nature.  Befides  a 
Fort  at  the  Fork  might  be  built  at  a  much  lefs 
Expence,  than  at  the  other  Place.  — 

Nature  has  well  contrived  this  lower  Place, 
for  Water  Defence;  but  the  Hill  whereon  it 

muft 


'wa*»!iiiwMiaijJt. 


I- 


(    »2) 

muft  ftand  being  about  a  Quarter  of  a  Mile  in 
Length,  and  then  defcending  gradually  on  the 
Land  Side,  will  render  it  difficult  and  very  ex- 
penfive,  to  make  a  fufficient  Fortification  there.— 
The  whole  Flat  upon  the  Hill  muft  be  taken-in, 
the  Side  next  the  Defcent  made  extremely  high, 
or  elfe  the  Hill  itfelf  cut  away  ;  Otherwife,  the 
Enemy  may  raife  Batteries  within  that  Diftance 
without  being  expofed  to  a  fingle  Shot  from  the 
Fort. 

Shingi/s  attended   us  to   the  Loggs-1oyix\, 
where  we  arrived  between  Sun-fetting  and  Dark,' 
the  25th  Day  after  I  left  William/burg.    We 
travelled  over  fome  extreme  good  and  bad  Land 
to  get  to  this  Place .  ' 

As  foon  as  I  came  into  Town,  I  went  to  Mo- 
nakatoocha  (as  the  Half-king  was  out  at  his 
hunting-Cabbin  on  little  -ffmz/^^-Creek,  about  1  c 
Miles  off)  and  informed  him  by  John  Davifon 
my  Indian  Interpreter,  that  I  was  fent  a  Meffen- 
ger  to  the  French  General;  and  was  o-dered  to 
call  upon  the  Sachems  of  the  Six  Nations,  to  ac 
quamt  them  with  it.— I  gave  him  a  String  of 
Wampum  t,  and  a  Twift  of  Tobacco,  and  de- 
fired  him  to  fend  fcr  the  Half-King;  which  he 
promifed  to  do  by  a  Runner  in  the  Morning,  and 
for  other  Sachems— I  invited  him  and  the  other 

f  A  kind  of  Indian  Money ;  alfo  given  as  a  Prefent  or  Mark  of 
Fnendfhip. 


great 


(  »3) 

great  Men  prefent  to  my  Tent,  where  they 
ilay'd  about  an  Hour  and  retum'd. 

According  to  the  bed  Obfervations  I  could 
make,  Mr.  Giff^^  new  Settlement  (which  we 
pafs'd  by)  bears  about  W.  N.  W.  70  Miles 
from  W^///j-Creek  ;  Skanapins,  or  the  Forks  N. 
by  W.  or  N.  N.  W.  about  50  Miles  from  that ; 
and  from  thence  to  the  LoggS'Town,  the  Courfe 
is  nearly  Weft  about  18  or  20  Miles:  So  that 
the  whole  Diftance,  as  we  went  and  computed 
it,  is  at  leaft  135  or  140  Miles  from  our  back 
Inhabitants. 

25M,  Came  to  Town  four  or  ten  Frenchmen 
who  had  deferted  from  a  Company  at  the  Kuf- 
kujkas,  which  lies  at  the  Mouth  of  this  River. 
I  got  the  following  Account  from  them.  They 
were  fent  froin  New-Orleans  with  100  Men,  and 
8  Canoe-Loads  of  Provifions  to  this  Place ;  where 
they  expefted  to  have  met  the  fame  Number  of 
Men,  from  the  Forts  on  this  Side  Lake  Erie^  to 
convoy  them  and  the  Stores  up,  who  were  not 
arrived  when  they  ran-offi 

I  enquired  into  the  Situation  of  the  French,  on 
the  MiJJiJJippi,  their'  Number,  and  what  Forts 
they  had  built.  They  inform'd  me.  That  there 
were  four  fmall  Forts  between  New-Orleans  and 
the  Black-IJlands,  garrifon'd  with  about  30  or  40 
Men,  and  a  few  fmall  Pieces  in  each :  That  at 
New-Orleans,  which  is  near  the  Mouth  of  the 

Mijfiffippi, 


I'  ill 


3^  1 


l/ 


u 


(■4) 
MifftJJippi,  there  are  35  Companies,  of  40  Men 
each,  with  a  pretty  ftrong  Fort  mounting  8  Car- 
riage Guns ;  and  at  the  Black-IJlands  there  are 
fevcral  Companies,  and  a  Fort  with  6  Guns. 
The  Black-IJlands  are  about  130  Leagues  above 
the  Mouth  of  the  Ohio,  which  is  about  350  above 
New-Orleans,  They  alfo  acquainted  me,  that 
there  was  a  fmall  pallifado'd  Fort  on  the  Ohio, 
at  the  Mouth  of  the  Obaijh  about  60  Leagues 
from  the  MiJJiJtpiy  The  Obaijh*  heads  near 
the  Weft  End  of  Lake  Erie,  and  affords  the 
Communication  between  the  French  on  MiJJiJ- 
Jippi  and  thofe  on  the  Lakes.  Thefe  Deferters 
came  up  from  the  lower  Shanoah  Town  with 
one  Brown,  an  Indian  Trader,  and  were  going 
to  Philadelphia. 

About  3  o'clock  this  Evening  the  Half-King 
came  to  Town.  I  went  up  and  invited  him  with 
Davijon,  privately,  to  my  T;nt;  and  defir'd  him 
to  relate  fome  of  the  Particulars  of  his  Journey 
to  the  French  Commandant,  and  Reception  there: 
Alfo  to  give  me  an  Account  of  the  Ways  and 
Diftance.  He  told  me,  that  the  neareft  and 
levelleft  Way  was  now  impaflable,  by  Reafon 
of  many  large  mirey  Savannas ;  that  we  muft 
be  obliged  to  go  by  Venango,  and  fhould  not  get 
to  the  near  Fort  under  5  or  6  Nights  Sleep, 
good  Travelling.     When  he  went  to  the  Fort, 

•  Or  Wahajb,  written  by  the  French  Ouabacb. 

he 


a«MM 


(  '5) 
he  faicl  he  was  received  in  a  very  ftern  Manner 
by  the  late  Commander;  Who  afk'd  him  very 
abruptly,  what  he  had  come  about,  and  to  declare 
his  Bufmefs :  Which  he  faid  he  did  in  the  fol- 
lowing Speech. 

Fathers,  I  am  come  to  tell  you  yoiir  own 
Speeches  ;  what  your  own  Mouths  have  declared. 
Fathers,  You,  informer  Days  Jet  a  Silver  Ba- 
fon   before  us,  wherein  there  was  the  Leg  of 
a  Beaver,  and  deftrd  all  the  Nations  to  come 
and  eat  of  it ;  to  eat  in  Peace  and  Plenty,  and 
not  to  be  churlifli  to  one  another :    And  that  if 
anyfuch  Perfon  fhould  be  found  to  be  a  Dif- 
turber,  I  here  lay  down  by  the  Edge  of  the  Difh 
a  Rod,  which  you  muflfcourge  them  with ;  and 
if  I  your  Father,  fhould  get  foolifh,  in  my  old 
Days,  Ideftre  you  may  ufe  it  upon  me  as  well 

as  others. 

Now  Fathers,  it  is  you  who  are  the  Diflurb- 
ers  in  this  Land,  by  coming  and  building  your 
Towns ;  and  taking  it  away  unknown  to  us, 
and  by  Force. 

Fathers,  We  kindled  a  Fire  a  long  Time  ago, 
at  a  Place  called  Montreal,  where  we  defired 
you  to  flay,  and  not  to  come  and  intrude  upon 
our  Land.  I  now  deftre  you  may  difpatch  to 
that  Place ;  for  be  it  known  to  you.  Fathers, 
that  this  is  our  Land,  and  not  yours. 

Fathers, 


V: 


J 


( >^> ) 

Fathers,  I  lie/ire  you  may  hear  me  in  Civil- 
ne/s ;  if  not,  we  ph  7/  handle  that  Rod  which 
was  laid  down  for  the  Ufe  of  the  abflrepcrou^. 
If  you  had  come  in  a  peaceable  Marnier,  like  our 
Brothers  the  ^nglifh,  we  JJiould  not  have  been 
againfl  your  trading  with  us,  as  they  do ;  but 
TO  COME,  Fathers,  and  build  Houses  upon  our 
Land,  and  to  take  it  by  Force,  is  what  we 
cannot  submit  to. 

Fathers,  Both  you  and  the  Englifh  are  white, 
we  live  in  a  Country  between  ;   therefore  the 
Land  belongs  to  neither  one  nor  t'other:  But  the 
Great  Being  above  allowed  it  to  be  a  Place  of 
Reftdence  for  us ;  fo  Fathers,  I  deftre  you  to 
withdraw,  as  I  have  done  our  Brothers  the  Eng- 
lifti :  For  I  will  keep  you  at  Arms  length.    I 
lay  this  down  as  a  Trial  for  both,  to  fee  which 
will  have  thegreatefl  Regard  to  it,  and  that  Side 
we  zvillfland  by,  and  make  equal  Sharers  with 
us.     Our  Brothers  the  Engl  i  fh  have  heard  this, 
and  I  come  now  to  tell  it  to  you ,  for  I  am  not 
afraid  to  difcliarge  you  off  this  Land. 

This  he  faid  was  the  Subftance  of  what  he 
fpoke  to  the  General,  who  made  this  Reply, 

Now  my  Child,  I  have  heard  your  Speech: 
You  fpoke  firfl,  but  it  is  my  Time  to  fpeak  now. 
Where  is  my  Wampum  that  you  .        .^-jay, 

with 


(  '7  ) 
tvith  the  Marks  of  Timns  in  it  ?  This  Wam- 
pum I  do  not  kncnv,  .  hick  you  /  ive  di/charged 
me  off  the  Land  with ;  But  you  need  not  put 
yourfelf  to  the  Trouble  of  fpi'^king.for  I  wtli 
not  hear  you.  I  am  not  afraid  of  Flies,  or  Muf 
guitos,for  Indians  arefuch  as  thofe.  I  tell  you, 
down  that  River  I  will  go,  and  will  build  upon 
/'/,  according  to  my  Command.  If  the  River  was 
block'd  up,  I  have  Forces  fufficient  to  burfl  it 
open,  and  tread  under  my  Feet  all  thatfland  in 
Oppofition,  together  ivith  their  Alliances ;  for 
my  Force  is  as  the  Sand  upon  the  Sea  Shore : 
Therefore,  here  is  your  Wampum,  I  fling  it  at 
you.  Child,  you  talk  foolifli ;  you  fay  this  Land 
belongs  to  you,  but  there  is  not  the  Black  of  my 
Nail  yours.  I faw  that  Land  fooner  than  you 
did,  before  the  Shannoahs  and  you  ivere  at  War : 
Lead  was  the  Man  who  went  down,  and  took 
Poffeffion  of  that  River :  It  is  my  Land,  and  I 
will  have  it,  let  who  will  fland-up  for,  orfay- 
againfl,it.  Til  buy  attd  fell  with  (he  Englifli, 
(mockingly).  If  People  will  be  riud  by  me, 
they  may  expe5l  Kindnefs,  but  not  elfe. 


11 


The  Half-King  told  me  he  enquired  of  the 
General  after  two  EnglifJimen  who  were  made 
Prifoners,  and  received  this  Anfwer. 


'    % 


Child,  You  think  it  is  a  very  great  HardfJiip 
3  that 


\ 


\ 
111 


i 


n 


H 


'i 


\ 


( 18) 

^Aai  I  made  Prifoners  of  thofe  two  People  at 
Venango.  Dont  you  concern  your/elf  with  it : 
We  took  and  carried  them  to  Canada,  to  get  in- 
telligence of  what  the  EngHfh  were  doing  in 
Virginia. 

He  informed  me  that  they  had  built  two 
Forts,  one  on  Lake  Erie^  and  another  on  French- 
Creek,  near  a  fmall  Lake  about  15  Miles  afun- 
der,  and  a  large  Waggon  Road  between :  They 
are  both  built  after  the  fame  Model,  but  differ- 
ent in  the  Size ;  that  on  the  Lake  the  largeft. 
He  gave  me  a  Plan  of  them,  of  his  own  draw- 
ing. 

The  Indians  enquired  very  particularly  after 
their  Brothers  in  Carolina  Goal. 

They  alfo  afked  what  Sort  of  a  Boy  it  was 
who  was  taken  from  the  South-'Ex2inc\i',  for  they 
were  told  by  fome  Indians,  that  a  Party  of 
French  Indians  had  carried  a  white  Boy  by  the 
Kufkufka  Town,  towards  the  Lakes. 

iblh.  We  met  in  Council  at  the  Long- 
Houfe,  about  9  o'Clock,  where  I  fpoke  to  them 
as  follows. 

Brothers,  I  have  called  you  together  in  Coun- 
cil,  by  Order  of  your  Brother  the  Governor  of 
Virginia,  to  acquaint  you,  that  I  am  fent,  with 
allpofftble  Difpatch,  to  vijit,  and  deliver  a  Let- 
ter 


(19) 

ter  to  the  French  Commandant.,  of  very  great 
Importance  to  your  Brothers  the  Englifh ;  and 
I  dare  fay,  to  you  their  Friends  and  Allies. 

I  was  defired,  Brothers,  by  your  Brother  the 
Governor,  to  call  upon  you,  the  Sachems  of  the 
Nations,  to  inform  you  of  it,  and  to  ajk  your 
Advice  and  Afjfiflance  to  proceed  the  nearefl  and 
befl  Road  to  the  French.  You  fee,  Brothers,  I 
have  gotten  thus  far  on  my  yourney. 

His  Honour  likewife  defired  me  to  apply  to 
you  for  fome  of  your  young  Men,  to  condu£land 
provide  Provifions  for  us  on  our  Way ;  and  be 
a  Safeguard  againfl  thofe  French  Indians  who 
have  taken  up  the  Hatchet  againfl  us.  I  have 
fpoke  this  particularly  to  you,  Brothers,  becaufe 
his  Honour  our  Governor  treats  you  as  good 
Friends  and  Allies-,  and  holds  you  in  great 
Efleem.  To  confirm  what  I  have  faid,  I  give 
you  this  String  of  Wampum. 

After  they  had  confidered  for  fome  Time  on 
the  above  Difcourse,  the  Half-King  got  up  and 
(poke. 

Now,  my  Brothers,  in  Regard  to  what  my 
Brother  the  Governor  has  defired  me,  I  return 
you  this  Anfwer. 

I  rely  upon  you  as  a  Brotlier  ought  to  do,  as 
you  fay  we  are  Brothers  and  one  People :  We 

fhall 


■■■?| 
(ii 


V 


I 


i 


C20) 

JItallput  Heart  in  Hand,  and /peak  to  our  Fa- 
thers the  French  concerning  the  Speech  they 
made  to  me ;  and  you  may  depend  that  we  will 
endeavour  to  be  your  Guard. 

Brother,  as  you  have  q/ked  my  Advice,  I  hope 
you  will  be  ruled  by  it,  and  Jlay  till  I  can  pro- 
vide a  Company  to  go  with  you.  The  French 
Speech-Belt  is  not  here,  I  have  it  to  go  for  to  my 
huni'ng-Cabbin :  Likewife  the  People  whom  I 
have  ordered  in,  are  not  yet  come,  nor  cannot 
till  the  third  Night  from  this  \  till  which  Time, 
Brother,  I  mujl  beg  you  to  flay. 

I  intend  to  fend  a  Guard  of  Mingo's,  Shan- 
noahs,  and  Delawares,  that  our  Brothers  may 
fee  the  Love  and  Loyalty  we  bear- them. 

As  I  had  Orders  to  make  all  pofTible  Difpatch, 
and  waiting  here  was  very  contrary  to  my  Incli- 
nation, I  thanked  him  in  the  moft  fuitable  Man- 
ner I  could ;  and  told  him,  that  my  Bufinefs  re- 
quired the  greateft  Expedition,  and  would  not 
admit  of  that  Delay.  He  was  not  wellpleafed 
that  I  fhould  offer  to  go  before  the  Time  he  had 
appointed,  and  told  me,  that  he  could  not  con- 
fent  to  our  going  without  a  Guard,  for  Fear  fome 
Accident  fhould  befal  us,  and  draw  a  Reflexion 
upon  him.  Befides,  fays  he,  this  is  a  Matter  of 
no  fmall  Moment,  and  muft  not  be  entered  into 
without  due  Confideration :  For  now  I  intend  to 

deliver 


(21 ) 

deliver  up  the  ^iK^«^^-Speech-BeIt,  and  make 
the  Shanoahs  and  Delawares  do  the  fame.  And 
accordingly  he  gave  Orders  to  King  Shingi/s, 
who  was  prefent,  to  attend  on  Wednefday  Night 
with  the  Wampum ;  and  two  Men  of  their  Na- 
tion to  be  in  Readinefs  to  fet-out  with  us  next 
Morning.  As  I  found  it  was  impoflible  to  get- 
off  without  affronting  them  in  the  moft  egre- 
gious Manner,  I  confentedto  ftay. 

I  gave  them  back  a  String  of  Wampum  which 
I  met  with  at  Mr.  Frezier's,  and  which  they  had 
fent  with  a  Speech  to  his  Honour  the  Governor, 
to  inform  him,  that  three  Nations  o{  French  In- 
dians, viz.  Chippoways^  Ottoways,  and  Orun- 
daks,  had  taken -up  the  Hatchet  againft  the 
Englijh  ;  and  defired  them  to  repeat  it  over 
again :  But  this  they  poftponed  doing  till  they 
met  in  full  Council  with  the  Shannoahs  and 
Delaware  Chiefs. 

2'jth.  Runners  were  difpatched  very  early  for 
the  Shannoah  Chiefs.  The  Half-King  fet  out 
himfelf  to  fetch  the  7^nr«^^-Speech-Belt  from  his 
hunting  Cabbin. 

28/^.  He  returned  this  Evening,  and  came 
with  Monokaioocka,  and  two  other  Sachems  to 
my  Tent ;  and  begged  (as  they  had  complied 
with  his  Honour  the  Governor's  Requeft,  in  pro- 
viding Men,  &c.)  to  know  on  what  Bufinefs  we 
were  going  to  the  French  ?  this  was  a  Queflion 

I 


I 

I 
'i 


!  I 


m 


w  :: 


( " ) 

I  all  along  expedled,  and  had  provided  as  fat- 
isfadory  Anfwers  to,  as  I  could ;  which  allayed 
their  Curiofity  a  little. 

Monokatoocha  informed  me,  that  an  Indian 
from  Venango  brought  News,  a  few  Days  ago, 
that  the  French  had  called  all  the  Mingo's,  Del- 
awares,  &c.  together  at  that  Place;  and  told 
them,  that  they  intended  to  have  been  down  the 
River  this  Fall,  but  the  waters  were  growing 
cold,  and  the  Winter  advancing,  which  obliged 
them  to  go  into  Quarters ;  But  that  they  might 
affuredly  expedt  them  in  the  Spring,  with  a  far 
greater  Number;  and  defired  that  they  might 
be  quite  paflive,  and  not  to  intermeddle,  unlefs 
they  had  a  Mind  to  draw  all  their  Force  upon 
them :  For  that  they  expedled  to  fight  the  Eng- 
lijh  three  Years  (as  they  fuppofed  there  would 
be  fome  Attempts  made  to  ftop  them)  in  which 
Time  they  fhould  conquer :  But  that  if  they 
ftiould  prove  equally  ftrong,  they  and  the  Eng- 
lijh,  would  join  to  cut  them  all  off,  and  divide 
the  Land  between  them :  That  though  they  had 
loft  their  General,  and  fome  few  of  their  Sol- 
diers, yet  there  were  men  enough  to  reinforce 
them,  and  make  them  Mafters  of  the  Ohio. 

This  Speech,  he  faid,  was  delivered  to  them 
by  one  Captain  Joncaire  their  Interpreter  in 
Chief,  living  at  Venango,  and  a  Man  of  Note  in 
the  Army. 

29/^ 


(23) 

2<^ih.  The  Half-King  and  Monokatoocha, 
came  very  early,  and  begged  me  to  flay  one  Day 
more :  For  notwithftanding  they  had  ufed  all  the 
Diligence  in  their  Power,  the  Shanoak  Chiefs 
had  not  brought  the  Wampum  they  ordered,  but 
would  certainly  be  in  To-night;  if  not,  they 
would  delay  me  no  longer,  but  would  fend  it 
after  us  as  foon  as  they  arrived.  When  I  found 
them  fo  preffing  in  their  Requeft,  and  knew  that 
returning  of  Wampum  was  the  aboliftiing  of 
Agreements  ;  and  giving  this  up,  was  fhaking- 
off  all  Dependance  upon  the  French^  I  confented 
to  ftay,  as  I  believed  an  Offence  offered  at  this 
Crifis,  might  be  attended  with  greater  ill  Confe- 
quence,  than  another  Day's  Delay.  They  alfo 
informed  me,  that  Shingifs  could  not  get-in  his 
Men ;  and  was  prevented  from  coming  himfelf 
by  his  Wife's  Sicknefs,  (I  believe,  by  Fear  of 
the  French) ;  but  that  the  Wampum  of  that  Na- 
tion was  lodged  with  Kujlaloga  one  of  their 
Chiefs  at  Venango. 

In  the  Evening  late  they  came  again  and  ac- 
quainted me  that  the  Shannoahs  were  not  yet 
arrived,  but  that.it  fhould  not  retard  the  Profe- 
cution  of  our  Journey.  He  delivered  in  my 
Hearing,  the  Speeches  that  were  to  be  made 
to  the  French  by  Jejkakake^  one  of  their  old 
Chiefs,  which  was  giving  -  up  the  Belt  the 
late  Commandant  had  afked  for,  and  repeat- 
ing 


I 


I 


(M) 

ing  near  the  fame  Speech  he  himfelf  had  done 
before. 

He  alfo  delivered  a  String  of  Wampunni  to 
this  Chief,  which  was  fent  by  King  Shingi/s,  to 
be  given  to  Kii/laloga,  with  Orders  to  repair  to 
the  French,  and  deliver-up  the  Wampum. 

He  likewife  gave  a  very  large  String  of  black 
and  white  Wampum,  which  was  to  be  font  up 
immediately  to  the  Six  Nations,  if  the  French 
refufed  to  quit  the  Land  at  this  Warning;  which 
was  the  third  and  laft  Time,  and  was  the  Right 
of  this  yejkakake  to  deliver. 

30//^.  Laft  Night  the  great  Men  aflembled  to 
their  Council-Houfe,  to  confult  further  about  this 
Journey,  and  who  were  to  go :  The  Refult  of 
which  was,  that  only  three  of  their  Chiefs,  with 
one  of  their  beft  Hunters,  fhould  be  our  Con- 
voy. The  Reafon  they  gave  for  not  fending 
more,  after  what  had  been  propofed  at  Council 
the  26th,  was,  that  a  greater  Number  might  give 
the  French  Sufpicions  of  fome  bad  Defign,  and 
caufe  them  to  be  treated  rudely ;  But  I  rather 
think  they  could  not  get  their  Hunters  in. 

We  fet  out  about  9  o'Clock  with  the  Half- 
King,  Je/kakake,  White  Thunder^  and  the  Hunt- 
er ;  and  travelled  on  the  Road  to  Venango, 
where  we  arrived  the  4th  of  December,  without 
any  Thing  remarkable  happening  but  a  contin- 
ued Series  of  bad  Weather. 

This 


\  ': 


4 


(25) 

This  is  an  old  Indian  Town,  fituated  at  the 
Mouth  of  French  Creek  on  Ohio ;  and  lies  near 
N.  about  60  Miles  from  the  Loggs-Toyiw,  but 
more  than  70  the  Way  we  were  obliged  to  go. 

We  found  the  French  Colours  hoifted  at  a 
Houfe  from  which  they  had  driven  Mr.  John 
Frazier,  an  EngliJJi  Subject.  I  immediately  re- 
paired to  it,  to  know  where  the  Commander  re- 
fided.  There  were  three  Officers,  one  of  whom, 
Capt.  Joncaire,  informed  me,  that  he  had  the 
Command  of  the  Ohio :  But  that  there  was  a 
General  Officer  at  the  near  Fort,  where  he  ad- 
vifed  me  to  apply  for  an  Anfwer.  He  invited 
us  to  fup  with  them ;  and  treated  us  with  the 
greateft  Complaifance. 

The  Wine,  as  they  dofed  themfelves  pretty 
plentifully  with  it,  foon  banifhed  the  Reftraint 
which  at  firft  appeared  in  their  Converfation ; 
and  gave  a  Licence  to  their  Tongues  to  reveal 
their  Sentiments  more  freely. 

They  told  me.  That  it  was.  their  abfolute  De- 
fign  to  take  Pofleflion  of  the  Ohio,  and  by 
G —  they  would  do  it :  For  that  altho'  they  were 
fenfible  the  Englijh  could  raife  two  Men  for 
their  one ;  yet  they  knew,  their  Motions  were 
too  flow  and  dilatory  to  prevent  any  Undertak- 
ing of  theirs.  They  pretend  to  have  an  un- 
doubted Right  to  the  River,  from  a  Difcovery 
made  by  one  La  Salle  60  Years  ago ;  and  the 
4  Rife 


'i 

\ 
I 


i 


m 


(26) 

Rife  of  this  Expedition  is,  to  prevent  our  fettling 
on  the  River  or  Waters  of  it,  as  they  had  heard 
of  fome  Families  moving-out  in  Order  thereto. 
From  the  beft  Intelligence  I  could  get,  there 
have  been  1 500  Men  on  this  Side  Ontario  Lake: 
But  upon  the  Death  of  the  General  all  were  re- 
called to  about  6  or  700,  who  were  left  to  gar- 
rifon  four  Forts,  150  or  there  abouts  in  each. 
The  firft  of  them  is  on  /rmr^-Creek,  near  a 
fmall  Lake,  about  60  miles  from  Venango,  near 
N.N.W.  the  next  lies  on  Lake  Erie,  where  the 
greater  Part  of  their  Stores  are  kept,  about  15 
Miles  from  the  other.  From  this  it  is  120  Miks 
to  the  carrying  Place,  at  the  Falls  of  Lake  Erie, 
where  there  is  a  fmall  Fort ;  which  they  lodge 
their  Goods  at,  in  bringing  them  from  Montreal, 
the  Place  whence  all  their  Stores  come  from. 
The  next  Fort  lies  about  20  Miles  from  this,  on 
Ontario  Lake.  Between  this  Fort  and  Mon- 
treal there  are  three  others,  the  firft  of  which  is 
near  oppofite  to  the  EngliJJt  Fort  O/wego.  From 
the  Fort  on  Lake  Erie  to  Montreal  is  about  600 
Miles,  which  they  fay  requires  no  more,  if  good 
Weather,  than  four  Weeks  Voyage,  if  they  go 
in  Barks  or  large  Veflels,  fo  that  they  may  crofs 
the  Lake :  But  if  they  come  in  Canoes  it  will 
require  5  or  6  Weeks,  for  they  are  obliged  to 
keep  under  the  Shore. 

Ith.    Rain'd  exceffively  all  Day,  which  pre- 
vented 


(   27  ) 

vented  our  Travelling.  Capt.  Joncaire  fent  for 
the  Half-King,  as  he  had  but  juft  heard  that  he 
came  with  me :  He  affedled  to  be  much  con- 
cerned that  I  did  not  make  free  to  bring  them 
in  before.  I  excufed  it  in  the  beft  manner  I 
was  capable,  and  told  him,  I  did  not  think  their 
Company  agreeable,  as  I  had  heard  him  fay  a 
good  deal  in  Difpraife  of  Indians  in  general. 
But  another  Motive  prevented  me  from  bring- 
ing them  into  his  Company:  I  knew  he  was 
Interpreter,  and  a  Perfon  of  very  great  Influence 
among  the  Indians,  and  had  lately  ufed  all  pof- 
fible  Means  to  draw  them  over  to  their  Intereft; 
therefore  I  was  defirous  of  giving  no  Opportu- 
nity that  could  be  avoided. 

When  they  came  in,  there  was  great  Pleafure 
exprefled  at  feeing  them.  He  wondred  how 
they  could  be  fo  near  without  coming  to  vifit 
him  ;  made  feveral  trifling  Prefents ;  and  ap- 
plied Loquor  fo  faft,  that  they  were  foon  ren- 
dred  incapable  of  the  Bufinefs  they  came  about, 
notwithftanding  the  Caution  which  was  given. 

dth.  The  Half-King  came  to  my  Tent,  quite 
fober,  and  infifted  very  much  that  I  fhould  ftay 
and  hear  what  he  had  to  fay  to  the  French.  I 
fain  would  have  prevented  his  ipeaking  any 
Thing,  till  he  came  to  the  Commandant;  but 
could  not  prevail.  He  told  me,  that  at  this 
Place  a  Council  Fire  was  kindled,  where  all  their 

Bufinefs 


i  ' 


m 

(■J  •■  r 


i 


III 


'itii 


■1 

<  if 

i 


(28) 

Bufinefs  with  thcfe  Peopl'*  was  to  be  tranfadled  ; 
and  that  the  Management  of  the  Indian  Affairs 
was  left  folely  to  Monfieur  Joncaire.  As  I  was 
defirous  of  knowing  the  Iffue  of  this,  I  agreed 
to  ftay :  But  fent  our  Horfes  a  little  Way  up 
French  Creek,  to  raft  over  and  encamp  ;  which 
I  knew  would  make  it  near  Night. 

About  10  o'clock  they  met  in  Council.  The 
King  (poke  much  the  fame  as  he  had  before  done 
to  the  General ;  and  offered  the  French  Speech- 
Belt  which  had  before  been  demanded,  with  the 
Marks  of  four  Towns  on  it,  which  Monfieur 
Joncaire  refufed  to  receive ;  but  defired  him  to 
carry  it  to  the  Fort  to  the  Commander. 

^th.  Monfieur  La  Force,  Commiffary  of  the 
French  Stores,  and  three  other  Soldiers  came 
over  to  accompany  us  up.  We  found  it  ex- 
tremely difficult  to  get  the  Indians  off  To-day, 
as  every  Stratagem  had  been  ufed  to  prevent 
their  going-up  with  me.  I  had  laft  Night  left 
John  Davifon  (the  Indian  Int^tpreter  whom  I 
brought  with  me  from  Town,  and  ftridly  charged 
him  not  to  be  out  of  their  Company,  as  I  could 
not  get  them  over  to  my  Tent ;  for  they  had 
fome  Bufinefs  with  Kujlalogay  chiefly  to  know 
the  Reafon  why  he  did  not  deliver  up  the  French 
Belt  which  he  had  in  Keeping:  But  I  was 
obliged  to  fend  Mr.  Gi/l  over  To-day  to  fetch 
them  ;  which  he  did  with  great  Perfuafion. 

At 


(29) 

At  1 1  o'clock  we  fet  out  for  the  Fort,  and 
were  prevented  from  arriving  there  till  the  nth 
by  exceflive  Rains,  Snows,  and  bad  Travelling, 
through  many  Mires  and  Swamps.  Thefe  we 
were  obliged  to  pafs,  to  avoid  crofling  the  Creek, 
which  was  impoflible,  either  by  fording  or  raft- 
ing, the  Water  was  fo  high  and  rapid. 

We  pafTed  over  much  good  Land  fince  we  left 
Venango,  and  through  feveral  extenfive  and  very 
rich  Meadows ;  one  of  which  I  believe  was  near 
four  Miles  in  Length,  and  confiderably  wide  in 
fome  Places. 

1 2th.  I  prepared  early  to  wait  upon  the  Com- 
mander, and  was  received  and  conducted  to  him 
by  the  fecond  Officer  in  Command.  I  ac- 
quainted him  with  my  Bufmefs,  and  offered  my 
Commiflion  and  Letter :  Both  of  which  he  dc' 
fired  me  to  keep  till  the  Arrival  of  Monfieur  Ri- 
parti,  Captain,  at  the  next  Fort,  who  was  fent 
for  and  expefted  every  Hour. 

This  Commander  is  a  Knight  of  the  military 
Order  of  St.  Lewis,  and  named  Legardeur  de 
St.  Piere.  He  is  an  elderly  Gentleman,  and  has 
much  the  Air  of  a  Soldier.  He  was  fent  over 
to  take  the  Command,  immediately  upon  the 
Death  of  the  late  General,  and  arrived  here 
about  feven  Days  before  me. 

At  2  o'clock  the  Gentleman  who  was  fent  for 
arrived,  when  I  offered  the  Letter,  &c.  again ; 

which 


\ 


^1 

'     fi 

1    1 

\   i3 

\\  f 

1 

1 

);; 

,::( 

1         ' 

^1 

Jf 

^^1 


I 


I'll 


(30) 
which  they  received,  and  adjourned  into  a  pri- 
vate Apartment  for  the  Captain  to  tranflate,  who 
underftood  a  little  Englijh.  After  he  had  done 
it,  the  Commander  defired  I  would  walk-in,  and 
bring  my  Interpreter  to  perufe  and  corredl  it; 
which  I  did. 

13///.  The  chief  Officers  retired,  to  hold  a 
Council  of  War ;  which  gave  me  an  Opportu- 
nity of  taking  the  Dimenfions  of  the  Fort,  and 
making  what  Obfervations  I  could. 

It  is  fituated  on  the  South,  or  Weft  Fork  of 
French  Creek,  near  the  Water ;  and  is  almoft 
furronnded  by  the  Creek,  and  a  fmall  Branch  of 
it  which  forms  a  Kind  of  Ifland.  Four  Houfes 
compofe  the  Sides.  The  Baftions  are  made  of 
Piles  driven  into  the  Ground,  ftanding  more  than 
12  Feet  above  it,  and  (harp  at  Top:  With  Port- 
Holes  cut  for  Cannon,  and  Loop-Holes  for  the 
fmall  Arms  to  fire  through.  There  are  eight 
6  lb.  Pieces  mounted,  in  each  Baftion ;  and  one 
Piece  of  four  pound  before  the  Gate.  In  the 
Baftions  are  a  Guard-Houfe,  Chapel,  DoAor's 
Lodging,  and  the  Commander's  private  Store : 
Round  which  are  laid  Plat-Forms  for  the  Can- 
non and  Men  to  ftand  on.  There  are  feveral 
Barracks  without  the  Fort,  for  the  Soldiers 
Dwelling ;  covered,  fome  with  Bark,  and  fome 
with  Boards,  made  chiefly  of  Loggs.  There 
are  alfo  feveral  other  Houfes,  fuch  as  Stables, 
Smiths  Shop,  &c. 

I 


\\ 


(3'  ) 

I  cniild  get  no  certain  /  iccount  of  the  Num- 
ber of  Men  here :  But  according  to  the  beft 
Judgment  I  could  form,  there  are  an  Hundred 
exclufive  of  Officers,  of  which  there  are  many. 
I  alfo  ga/e  Orders  to  the  People  who  were  with 
me,  to  take  an  exaft  Account  of  the  Canoes 
which  were  hauled-up  to  convey  their  Forces 
down  in  the  Spring.  This  they  did,  and  told 
50  of  Birch  Bark,  and  170  of  Pine;  bt fides 
many  others  which  were  blocked-out,  in  Readi- 
nefs  to  make. 

\dfth.  As  the  Snow  encreafed  very  faft,  and 
our  Horfes  daily  became  weaker,  I  fent  them  off 
unloaded  ;  under  the  Care  of  Barnaby  Currin 
and  two  others,  to  make  all  convenient  Difpatch 
to  Venango,  and  there  wait  our  Arrival,  if  there 
was  a  Profpeft  of  the  Rivers  freezing :  If  not, 
then  to  continue  down  to  Skanapin's  Town,  at 
the  Forks  of  Ohio,  and  there  to  wait  till  we 
came  to  crofs  Aliganey;  intending  myfelf  to  go 
down  by  Water,  as  I  had  the  Offer  of  a  Canoe 
or  two. 

As  I  found  many  Plots  concerted  to  retard 
the  Indians  Bufinefs,  and  prevent  their  return- 
ing with  me ;  I  endeavour'd  all  that  lay  in  my 
Power  to  fruftrate  their  Schemes,  and  hurry 
them  on  to  execute  their  intended  Defiign.  They 
accordingly  prefled  for  Admittance  this  Even- 
ing, which  at  Length  was  granted  them,  pri- 
vately. 


l;  !! 


I 


i  ! 


(32) 
vately,  with  the  Commander  and  one  or  two 
other  Officers.  The  Half-King  told  me,  that  he 
ofFer'd  the  Wampum  to  the  Commander,  who 
evaded  taking  it,  and  made  many  fair  Promifes 
of  Love  and  Friendfhip ;  faid  he  wanted  to  live 
in  Peace,  and  trade  amicably  with  them,  as  a 
Proof  of  which  he  would  fend  fome  Goods  im- 
mediately down  to  the  Log/ s-T own  for  them. 
But  I  rather  think  the  Defign  of  that  is,  to  bring 
away  all  our  ftraggling  Traders  they  meet  with, 
as  I  privately  underftood  they  intended  to  carry 
an  Officer,  &c.  with  them.  And  what  rather 
confirms  this  Opinion,  I  was  enquiring  of  the 
Commander,  by  what  Authority  he  had  made 
Prifoners  of  feveral  of  our  Englijh  Subjefts. 
He  told  me  that  the  Country  belong'd  to  them; 
that  no  Englijhman  had  a  Right  to  irade  upon 
thofe  Waters ;  and  that  he  had  Orders  to  make 
every  Perfon  Prifoner  who  attempted  it  on  the 
Ohio^  or  the  Waters  of  it. 

I  enquir'd  of  Capt.  Riparti  about  the  Boy 
who  was  carried  by  this  Place,  as  it  was  done 
while  the  Command  devolved  on  him,  between 
the  Death  of  the  late  General,  and  the  Arrival 
of  the  prefent.  He  acknowledged,  that  a  Boy 
had  been  carried  paft ;  and  that  the  Indians  had 
two  or  three  white  Men's  Scalps,  (I  was  told  by 
fome  of  the  Indians  at  Venango  Eight)  but  pre- 
tended to  have  forgotten  the  Name  of  the  Place 

which 


11' 


(33) 
which  the  Boy  came  from,  and  all  the  Particu- 
lar Fads,  though  he  had  queftion'd  him  for  fome 
Hours,  as  they  were  carrying  him  paft.  I  like- 
wife  enquired  what  they  had  done  with  John 
Trotter  and  James  Mac  Clocklan,  two  Penfyl- 
vania  Traders,  whom  they  had  taken,  with  all 
their  Goods.  They  told  me,  that  they  had  been 
fent  to  Canada^  but  were  now  returned  Home. 

This  Evening  I  received  an  Anfwer  to  his 
Honour  the  Governor's  Letter  from  the  Com- 
mandant. 

15///,  The  Commandant  ordered  a  plentiful 
Store  of  Liquor,  Provifion,  &c.  to  be  put  on 
Board  our  Canoe ;  and  appeared  to  be  extremely 
complaifant,  though  he  was  exerting  every  Arti- 
fice which  he  could  invent  to  fet  our  own  In- 
dians at  Variance  with  us,  to  prevent  their  go- 
ing 'till  after  our  Departure.  Prefents,  Rewards, 
and  every  Thing  which  could  be  fuggefted  by 

him  or  his  Officers. 1  can't  fay  that  ever  in 

my  Life  I  fufFer'd  fo  much  Anxiety  as  I  did  in 
this  Affeir :  I  faw  that  every  Stratagem  which 
the  moft  fruitful  Brain  could  invent,  was  prac- 
tifed,  to  win  the  Half-King  to  their  Intereft ; 
and  that  leaving  him  here  was  giving  them  the 

Opportunity  they  aimed  at, 1  went  to  the 

Half-King  and  prefs'd    him    in   the   ftrongeft 

Terms  to  go :  He  told  me  the  Commandant 

would  not  difcharge  him  'till  the  Morning.     I 

5  then 


(    ! 


y.     1 

i  % 

m 


i 


\  1 


!l  /j 


n\ 


i 


i 


:l 


Ii 


li 


(; 


1^1 


(34) 
then  went  to  the  Commandant,  and  defired  him 
to  do  their  Bufinefs;  and  complain'd  of  ill  Treat- 
ment :  For  keeping  them,  as  they  were  Part  of 
my  Company,  was  detaining  me*  This  he  prom- 
ifed  not  to  do,  but  to  forward  my  Journey  as 
much  as  he  could.  He  protefted  he  did  not  keep 
them,  but  was  ignorant  of  the  Caufe  of  their 

Stay ;  though  I  foon  found  it  out : He  had 

promifed  them  a  prefent  of  Guns,  &c.  if  they 
would  wait  'till  the  Morning. 

As  I  was  very  much  prefs'd,  by  the  Indians, 
to  wait  this  Day  for  them,  I  confented,  on  a 
Promife,  That  nothing  ftiould  hinder  them  in 
the  Morning. 

\(>th.  The  French  were  not  flack  in  their  In- 
ventions to  keep  the  Indians  this  Day  alfo :  But 
as  they  were  obligated,  according  to  Promife, 
to  give  the  Prefent,  they  then  endeavoured  to 
try  the  Power  of  Liquor ;  which  I  doubt  not 
would  have  prevailed  at  any  other  Time  than 
this :  But  I  urged  and  infifted  with  the  King  fo 
clofely  upon  his  Word,  that  he  refrained,  and 
fet-ofF  with  us  as  he  had  engaged. 

We  had  a  tedious  and  very  fatiguing  Paflage 
down  the  Creek.  Several  Times  we  had  like 
to  have  been  ftaved  againft  Rocks ;  and  many 
Times  were  obliged  all  Hands  to  get-out  and  re- 
main in  the  Water  Half  an  Hour  or  more,  get- 
ting over  the  Shoals.    At  one  Place  the  Ice  had 

lodged 


'•\ 


\ 

\  I  } 


C35) 
lodged  and  made  it  impaflable  by  Water;  there- 
fore we  were  obliged  to  carry  our  Canoe  acrofs 
a  Neck  of  Land,  a  Quarter  of  a  Mile  over. 
We  did  not  reach  Venango,  till  the  22d,  where 
we  met  with  our  Horfes. 

This  Creek  is  extremely  crooked,  I  dare  fay 
the  Diftance  between  the  Fort  and  Vetiango 
can't  be  lefs  than  130  Miles,  to  follow  the  Me- 
anders. 

22,d,  When  I  got  Things  ready  to  fet-ofF,  I 
fent  for  the  Half-King,  to  know  whether  he  in- 
tended to  go  with  us,  or  by  Water.  He  told 
me  that  White-Thunder  h^d  hurt  himfelf  much, 
and  was  fick  and  unable  to  walk ;  therefore  he 
was  obliged  to  carry  him  down  in  a  Canoe.  As 
I  found  he  intended  to  ftay  here  a  Day  or  two, 
and  knew  that  Mon(\t\xx  y one  aire  would  employ 
every  Scheme  to  fet  him  againft  the  EngliJIi  as 
he  had  before  done;  I  told  him  I  hoped  he 
would  guard  againft  his  Flattery,  and  let  no  fine 
Speeches  influence  him  in  their  Favour.  He 
defired  I  might  not  be  concerned,  for  he  knew 
the  French  too  well,  for  any  Thing  to  engage 
him  in  their  Behalf;  and  that  though  he  could 
not  go  down  with  us,  he  yet  would  endeavour 
to  meet  at  the  Forks  with  Jofeph  CampLell,  to 
deliver  a  Speech  for  me  to  carry  to  his  Honour 
the  Governor.  He  told  me  he  would  order  the 
young  Hunter  to  attend  us,  and  get  Provifion, 

&c.  if  wanted. 

Our 


•iii 


'H 


|l! 


(36) 

Our  Horfes  were  now  fo  weak  and  feeble,  and 
the  Baggage  fo  heavy  (as  we  were  obliged  to 
provide  all  the  Neceffaries  which  the  Journey- 
would  require)  that  we  doubted  much  their  per- 
forming it :  therefore  myfelf  and  others  (except 
the  Drivers  who  were  obliged  to  ride)  gave-up 
our  Horfes  for  Packs,  to  afTift  along  with  the 
Baggage.  I  put  myfelf  in  an  Indian  walking 
Drefs,  and  continued  with  them  three  Days,  till 
I  found  there  was  no  Probability  of  their  getting 
home  in  any  reafonable  Time.  The  Horfes  grew 
lefs  able  to  travel  every  Day ;  the  Cold  increafed 
very  taft ;  and  the  Roads  were  becoming  much 
worfe  by  a  deep  Snow,  continually  freezing: 
Therefore  as  I  was  uneafy  to  get  back,  to  make 
Report  of  my  Proceedings  to  his  Honour  the 
Governor,  I  determined  to  profecute  my  Jour- 
ney the  neareft  Way  through  the  Woods,  on 
Foot. 

Accordingly  I  left  Mr.  Vanbraam  in  Charge 
of  our  Baggage ;  with  Money  and  Direftions, 
to  provide  Neceffaries  from  Place  to  Place  for 
themfelves  and  Horfes,  and  to  make  the  moft 
convenient  Dipatch  in  Travelling. 

I  took  my  neceffary  Papers ;  pulled-off  my 
Cloaths ;  and  tied  myfelf  up  in  a  Match  Coat. 
Then  with  Gun  in  Hand  and  Pack  at  my  Back, 
in  which  were  my  Papers  and  Provifions,  I  fet- 
out  with  Mr.  Gift,  fitted  in  the  fame  Manner, 

on 


(  37  ) 
on  Wednefday  the  26th.     The  Day  following, 
juft  after  we  had  palTed  a  Place  called  the  Mur- 
dering-'Tovfn   (where  we  intended  to  quit  the 
Path,  and  fteer  acrofs  the  Country  for  Shanna- 
pins  Town)  we  fell-in  with  a  Party  oi  French 
Indians,  who  had  lain  in  Wait  for  us.     One  of 
them  fired  at  Mr.  Gift  or  me,  not  15  Steps  off, 
but  fortunately  miffed.     We  took  this  Fellow 
into  Cuftody,  and  kept  him  till  about  9  o'Clock 
at  Night :  Then  let  him  go,  and  walked  all  the 
remaining  Part  of  the  Night  without  making 
any  Stop ;  that  we  might  get  the  Start,  fo  far,  as 
to  be  out  of  the  Reach  of  their  Purfuit  the  next 
Day,  fince  we  were  well  affured  they  would 
follow  our  Trad  as  foon  as  it  was  light.     The 
next  Day  we  continued  travelling  till  quite  dark, 
and  got  to  the  River  about  two  Miles  above 
Shannapins.     We  expeded  to  have  found  the 
River  frozen,  but   it  was  not,  only  about   50 
Yards  from  each  Shore :  The  Ice  I  fuppofe  had 
broken  up  above,  for  it  was   driving  in  vaft 
Quantities. 

There  was  no  Way  for  getting  over  but  on  a 
Raft :  Which  we  fet  about,  with  but  one  poor 
Hatchet,  and  finiflied  juft  after  Sun-fetting.  This 
was  a  whole  Day's  Work:  we  next  got  it 
launched,  and  went  on  Board  of  it :  Then  fet- 
off.  But  before  wewere  Half  Way  over,  we 
were  jammed  in  the  Ice,  in  fuch  a  Manner  that 


1  1 


we 


I 


C38) 

we  expedted  every  Moment  our  Raft  to  fink, 
and  ourfelves  to  perifh.  I  put-out  my  fetting 
Pole  to  try  to  ftop  the  Raft,  that  the  Ice  might 
pafs  by  ;  when  the  Rapidity  of  the  Stream  threw 
it  with  Co  much  Violence  againft  the  Pole,  that 
it  jirked  me  out  into  ten  Feet  Water:  But  I  for- 
tunately faved  myfelf  by  catching  hold  of  one 
of  the  Raft  Logs.  Notwithftanding  all  our  Ef- 
forts we  could  not  get  the  Raft  to  either  Shore ; 
but  were  obliged,  as  we  were  near  an  IHand,  to 
quit  our  Raft  and  make  to  it. 

The  Cold  was  fo  extremely  fevere,  that  Mr. 
Gi^  had  all  his  Fingers,  and  fome  of  his  Toes 
frozen  ;  and  the  Water  was  fhut  up  fo  hard,  that 
we  found  no  Difficulty  in  getting-off  the  Ifland, 
on  the  Ice,  in  the  Morning,  and  went  to  Mr. 
Frazier'%.  We  met  here  with  20  Warriors  who 
were  going  to  the  Southward  to  War:  But 
coming  to  a  Place  upon  the  Head  of  the  great 
Kunnaway^  where  they  found  feven  People 
killed  and  fcalped  (all  but  one  Woman  with 
very  light  Hair)  they  turned  about  and  ran  back 
for  Fear  the  Inhabitants  fhould  rife  and  take 
them  as  the  Authors  of  the  Murder.  They  re- 
port that  the  Bodies  were  lying  about  the  Houfe, 
and  fome  of  them  much  torn  and  eaten  by  Hogs: 
By  the  Marks  which  were  left,  they  fay  they 
were  French  Indians  of  the  Ottoway  Nation, 
&c.  who  did  it. 

As 


C  39  ) 
As  we  intended  to  take  Horfes  here,  and  it 
required  fome  Time  to  find  them,  I  went-up 
about  three  Miles  to  the  Mouth  of  Yaugkyaugh- 
gane  to  vifit  Queen  Alliquippa^  who  had  ex- 
prefled  great  Concern  that  we  pafled  her  in  go- 
ing to  the  Fort.  I  made  her  a  Prefent  of  a 
Matchcoat  and  a  Bottle  of  Rum ;  which  latter 
was  thought  much  the  beft  Prefent  of  the  two. 

Tuefday  the  i  ft  Day  of  January,  we  left  Mr. 
Frazier's  Houfe,  and  arrived  at  Mr.  6"^'s  at 
Monongahela  the  2d,  where  I  bought  a  Horfe, 
Saddle,  &c.  the  6th  we  met  17  Horfes  loaded 
with  Materials  and  Stores  for  a  Fort  at  the  Forks 
of  Ohio,  and  the  Day  after  fome  Families  going- 
out  to  fettle:  This  Day  we  arrived  at  Wills 
Creek,  after  as  fatiguing  a  Journey  as  it  is  pofli- 
ble  to  conceive,  rendered  fo  by  exceflive  bad 
Weather.  From  the  firft  Day  oi  December  to 
the  15th,  there  was  but  one  Day  on  which  it  did 
not  rain  or  fnow  inceflantly;  and  throughout  the 
whole  Journey  we  met-with  nothing  but  one 
continued  Series  of  cold  wet  Weather,  which 
occafioned  very  uncomfortable  Lodgings ;  ef- 
pecially  after  we  had  quitted  our  Tent,  which 
was  fome  Screen  from  the  Inclemency  of  it. 

On  the  1  ith  I  got  to  Belvoir\  where  I  flopped 
one  Day  to  take  necefTary  Reft ;  and  then  fet  out, 
and  arrived  in  William/burgh  the  16th;  when 
I  waited  upon  his  Honour  the  Governor  with 

the 


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(40) 
the  Letter  I  had  brought  from  the  French  Com- 
mandant; and  to  give  an  Account  of  the  Suc- 
cefs  of  my  Proceedings.  This  I  beg  Leave  to 
do  by  offering  the  foregoing  Narrative  as  it  con- 
tains the  moft  remarkable  Occurrences  which 
happened  in  my  Journey. 

I  hope  what  has  been  faid  will  be  fufficient  to 
make  your  Honour  fatisfied  with  my  Condudl ; 
for  that  was  my  Aim  in  undertaking  the  Jour- 
ney, and  chief  Study  throughout  the  Profecu- 
tion  of  it. 

With  the  Hope  of  doing  it,  I,  with  infinite 
Pleafure  fubfcribe  myfelf. 

Your  Honour's  moft  Obedient, 

And  very  humble  Servant, 

G.  Wajhington. 


COPY 


(41  ) 


COPT  of  his  Honour  the  Governor's 
Letter y  to  the  Commandant  of  the  French 
Forces  on  the  Omo,fent  by  Major  Wafli- 
ington. 

SIR, 

THE  Lands  upon  the  River  O/n'o,  in  the 
Weftern  Parts  of  the  Colony  of  Virginia, 
are  fo  notorioufly  known  to  be  the  Property  of 
the  Crown  of  Great-Britain ;  that  it  is  a  Mat- 
ter of  equal  Concern  and  Surprize  to  me,  to 
hear  that  a  Body  of  French  Forces  are  eredling 
Fortrefles,  and  making  Settlements  upon  that 
River,  within  his  Majefty's  Dominions. 

The  many  and  repeated  Complaints  I  have 
received  of  thefe  A(fts  of  Hoftility,  lay  me  un- 
der the  Neceffity,  of  fending,  in  the  Name  of  the 
King  my  Mafter,  the  Bearer  hereof,  George 
Wq/Iiington,  Efq;  one  of  the  Adjutants  Gen- 
eral of  the  Forces  of  this  Dominion ;  to  com- 
plain to  you  of  the  Encroachments  thus  made, 
*  and 


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■•'^^ 


(42j 
and   of  the  Injuries  done  to  the   Subjefts   of 
Great-Britain,  in  open  Violation  of  the  Law  of 
Nations,  and  the  Treaties  now  fubfifting  be- 
tween the  two  Crowns. 

If  thefe  Fadls  are  true,  and  you  fhall  think  fit 
to  juftify  your  Proceedings,  I  muft  defire  you 
to  acquaint  me,  by  whofe  Authority  and  Inftruc- 
tions  you  have  lately  marched  from  Canada, 
with  an  armed  Force ;  and  inva'l^d  the  King  of 
Great-Britain  s  Territories,  in  the  Manner  com- 
plained of?  that  according  to  tht  Purport  and 
Refolution  of  your  Anfwer,  I  may  adl  agreeably 
to  the  Commiflion  I  am  honoured  with,  from  the 
King  my  Mafter. 

However  Sir,  in  Obedience  to  my  Inftruc- 
tions,  it  becomes  my  Duty  to  require  your  peace- 
able Departure  ;  and  that  you  would  forbear 
profecuting  a  Purpofe  fo  interruptive  of  the 
Harmony  and  good  Underftanding,  which  his 
Majefty  is  defirous  to  continue  and  cultivate 
with  the  moft  Chriftian  King. 

I  perfuade  myfelf  you  will  receive  and 
entertain  Major  Wajhington  with  the  Can- 
dour and  Politenefs  natural  to  your  Nation; 
and  it  will  give  me  the  greateft  Satisfaftion, 
if  you  return  him  with  an  Anfwer  fuitablc  to 

my 


(43) 
my  Wifhes  for  a  very  long  and  lafting  Peace 
between  us.     I  have  the  Honour  to  fubfcribe 
myfelf, 

S  I  R, 

Your  moft  obedient, 

Humble  Servant, 

Robert  Dinwiddie. 

William/burgh,  in  Virginia, ) 
Oaober  31ft,  1753.  j 


TRANS- 


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(44) 


it 


TRAJ^SLATIOJ^  of  a  Letter  from 
Mr.  Legardeur  de  St.  Piere,  a  principal 
French  Officer,  in  Anfwer  to  the  Govern- 
or's Letter. 

SIR, 

AS  I  have  the  Honour  of  commanding  here 
in  Chief,  Mr.  Wajliington  delivered  me 
the  Letter  which  you  wrote  to  the  Commandant 
of  the  French  Troops. 

I  fhould  have  been  glad  that  you  had  given 
him  Orders,  or  that  he  had  been  inclined  to  pro- 
ceed to  Canada^  to  fee  our  General;  to  whom  it 
better  belongs  than  to  me  to  fet-forth  the  Evi- 
dence and  Reality  of  the  Rights  of  the  King, 
my  Mafter,  upon  the  Lands  fituated  along  the 
River  Ohio^  and  to  conteft  the  Pretenfions  of  the 
King  of  Great-Britain  thereto. 

I  fhall  tranfmit  your  Letter  to  the  Marquis 
Duguifne.     His  Anfwer  wi'i  be  a  Law  to  me  ; 

and 


(45) 
and  if  he  fhall  order  me  to  communicate  it  to 
you,  Sir,  you  may  be  aflureu  I  ihall  not.  fail  to 
difpatch  it  to  you  forthwith. 

As  to  the  Summons  you  fend  mc  to  retire,  I 
do  not  think  myfelf  obliged  to  obey  it.  What- 
ever may  be  your  Inftruftions,  I  am  here  by 
Virtue  of  the  Orders  of  my  General ;  and  I  in- 
treat  you,  Sir,  not  to  doubt  one  Moment,  but 
that  I  am  determin'd  to  conform  myfelf  to  them 
with  all  the  Exadlnefs  and  Refolution  which  can 
be  expe<5ted  from  the  beft  Officer. 

I  don't  know  that  in  the  Progrefs  of  this  Cam- 
paign any  Thing  has  pafled  which  can  be  re- 
puted an  Aft  of  Hoftility,  or  that  is  contrary 
to  the  Treaties  which  fubfift  between  the  two 
Crowns ;  the  Continuation  whereof  as  much  in- 
terefts,  and  is  as  pleafing  to  us,  as  the  Englijh. 
Had  you  been  pleafed,  Sir,  to  have  def'-ended  to 
particub.rize  the  Fafts  which  occafi  d  your 
Complaint,  I  ftiouH  have  had  the  lionour  of 
anfwering  you  in  "  "  fuUeft,  and,  I  am  per- 
fuaded,  mofl        jtadtory  Manner. 

I  made  it  my  particular  Care  to  receive  Mr. 
WaJJiington,  with  a  Diftinftiou  fuitable  to  your 
Dignity,  as  well  as  his  own  Quality  and  great 
Merit.     I  flatter  myfelf  that  he  will  do  me  this 

Juftice 


\ 


'    ! 


! 


II 


(46) 
Juftice  before  you,  Sir ;  and  that  he  will  fignify 
to  you  in  the  Manner  I  do  myfclf,  the  profound 
Refpeft  with  which  I  am, 

SIR. 

Your  moft  humble,  and 
rooft  obedient  Servant, 

Legardeur  de  St.  Piere. 


From  the  Fort  fur  La  Riviere  au  Beuf, 
the  i%th  <?/■  December  1753. 


s: 


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